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Reel Youth

@reelyouth

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Behind the scenes with Reel Youth. We are a non-profit serving young people & communities to create films about the issues they care about most.

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Yesterday was the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Today, like many other days, students in Bella Bella are out on the land and waters of their territory.

The SEAS program (Supporting Emerging Aboriginal Stewards) at Bella Bella Community School takes students from kindergarten to grade 12 out into their territory, season by season, with knowledge holders, mentors and their own families, doing what Haíɫzaqv people have done there since time immemorial. It is one of the finest examples of land-based education we've had the privilege to see.

In 2023 the school invited two Reel Youth filmmakers to document the program, and this is the film that came out of it: Q̓a̓úƛ̓ini Qṇts Wáxv'w̓uísáx̌, Learning on the Land and Water. We're sharing it today with gratitude to the students, families, staff and knowledge holders who welcomed us, and with the school's okay.

To the educators and communities in our circle building land-based programs of your own: this one is worth twelve minutes of your time.

Watch: https://www.reelyouth.ca/bellabaellaseas2023.html

Made on the unceded territory of the Haíɫzaqv (Heiltsuk) Nation, with Bella Bella Community School.” by @reelyouth

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17 days ago

Tomorrow is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day. Reel Youth's offices will be closed, and our staff will spend the day listening and learning. Reconciliation isn't a day. It's ongoing work that belongs to all of us who live on these lands.
Ahead of tomorrow, we're sharing five new films from this year's VOICES of the LAND program, made in partnership with @storyhive. Young people from across BC each chose a place they love, researched the Indigenous history and present of that territory, walked the land, and made a short film about what reconciliation asks of them.
This clip is from Connection, by Lillian Wang, filmed in Stanley Park on the territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
If you're not sure what to do tomorrow, watching one of these films is a small place to start. Whose territory is this, what happened here, and what is my relationship to it now?
All five films at the link in our bio.
Indian Residential School Survivors Society crisis line, 24/7: 1-866-925-4419
National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation: nctr.ca
#NationalDayForTruthAndReconciliation #OrangeShirtDay #EveryChildMatters #TruthAndReconciliation #VoicesOfTheLand #LandBasedLearning #YouthFilm #ReelYouth #StanleyPark by @reelyouth

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19 days ago

We are so proud to share the second film from Troublemakers X: Tse'khene: Sekani Dakelth, now available to watch.

In this beautiful portrait, Sekani speaks about surviving the streets of Vancouver, about loss, about where she comes from, and about the community she has found and built along the way. Her voice, her presence, and her story are extraordinary — and we feel so lucky to have been trusted with them.

Tse'khene: Sekani Dakelth was directed by four incredible emerging filmmakers: Nye Holmes, Yoli Godt, Sandra Melech Falk, and Karen Takeuchi. It follows Amir, The Light Within, with one more film from the cohort still to come.

Troublemakers X was a program supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ youth to make short documentaries celebrating transgender Troublemakers — brave, beautiful people living fully in their truth.

Watch Tse'khene: Sekani Dakelth and the rest of the Troublemakers X films here: https://www.reelyouth.ca/troublemakers-2026.html

Thank you, Sekani, for trusting us with your story. And thank you to Nye, Yoli, Sandra, and Karen for the care and craft you brought to telling it. Thank you to The Parachute Fund, @storyhive @cityofvancouver @outinschools @queerfilmfest @sfucontemporaryarts @sfuwoodwards for you support in making this program a reality!

With love from all of us at Reel Youth 🎬

#YouthFilmmakers #ReelYouth #CommunityStories #Documentary #Intergenerational by @reelyouth

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20 days ago

We are so proud to share the first release from our tenth anniversary of our TROUBLEMAKERS Film Program - 'Amir, The Light Within’ which premiered this week at the @queerfilmfest.

Growing up a Lesbian in Damascus, Syria, Amir (then Amira) was the final child in a family of boys - someone who carried both his grandmother’s name and her face.

Amir, The Light Within, is a tender portrait of Amir's gender-affirming transition, with all it’s grief and love, and the light he has carried through both.

Made in our TROUBLEMAKERS X mini-documentary program in partnership with @outinschools, @queerfilmfest, @SFU Woodward’s with the support of @cityofvancouver and the Parachute Fund.

The first of the films from this cohort — more to come.

Congratulations, Amir. Thank you for trusting us with your story. by @reelyouth

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a month ago

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a month ago

Troublemakers X has begun! We have an incredible group of LGBTQ2s+ young people learning technical skills, building community, and producing powerful short films celebrating transgender Troublemakers.

This inter-generational film program is 🔥 and we can’t wait to share the results at the Vancouver Queer Film Festival, Telus Optic TV, and our social media and YouTube channel.

Stay tuned to our stories for behind the scenes magic of this special program 🌈🦄🎥 Happy Pride month everyone!

Huge thanks to our program partners and financial supporters:
@storyhive @sfuwoodwards @cityofvancouver @queerfilmfest @outinschools and the Parachute Fund 🙌🏼🌷🎥 by @reelyouth

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4 months ago

New films — Youth + Elders from Terrace, BC

We’re proud to share three short documentaries created through Reel Youth’s Youth & Elders Filmmaking Program in Terrace, in partnership with K5T and with the support of @storyhive. Young filmmakers learned storytelling, camera work, and editing while collaborating with local Elders to capture personal histories and community wisdom. These films celebrate connection, creativity, and the power of telling stories across generations.
Watch now — link in bio

#ReelYouth #YouthAndElders #TerraceBC #K5T #YouthFilmmakers #Documentary #Intergenerational #CommunityStories by @reelyouth

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5 months ago

We are so excited to celebrate 10 years of Troublemakers programming and this year, in response to growing transphobia in British Columbia, we are doing things a little different.

Do you know someone that would be a good fit for this program in front of the camera or behind? Please pass it on!

Details, dates, and application forms LINK IN BIO

Troublemakers X will be be supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ youth to make films featuring transgender Troublemakers. This program will honor and celebrate brave and beautiful trans people who are facing so much unnecessary hate.

This program is a partnership with our friends at the @queerfilmfest Vancouver @queerfilmfest @outinschools @outinschools and made possible with support from @storyhive 🎥 🧡 by @reelyouth

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5 months ago

We had an amazing week in Terrace, BC for a reading week youth & elders film program! Three teams of youth engaging with their elders and their powerful stories and lived experiences. The films are diverse, insightful, and authentic, and representative of the filmmakers deep care and learning. So proud of what was accomplished and can’t wait to share the three films with you after they premiere in the community in a month!

Huge thanks to @k5tclubhouse for partnering with us on the project to help facilitate, providing a beautiful space, and feeding us yummy lunches.

Made possible with support from our friends at @storyhive who will be also be distributing the films on their Optic TV platform to over a million subscribers! by @reelyouth

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6 months ago

Join us tonight at 7pm for the premiere of 10 new short films made by newcomer youth living in the Lower Mainland of BC. First time film makers and new Canadians sharing their lives through short video poems.

YouTube live LINK IN BIO

This online Reel Youth film program engages young people to develop leadership skills as a large group and make their own personal short films. A project in partnership with @successyouthprograms and made possible by @storyhive and the Government of Canada by @reelyouth

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8 months ago

We are thrilled to share that "Of the Land", a poignant film from Tulita, NT’s Youth & Elder’s film program, has been selected for screening at the National Film Festival for Talented Youth @nfftyfilm in Seattle! 🎉

In this moving documentary, Kelly Lake G’otine Elder Joseph Bernarde shares his reflections on the traditional knowledge passed down through his family and the deep connections he forged while growing up in the bush. This film beautifully captures the essence of culture, connection, and wisdom, making it a must-watch!

🗓 Screens Saturday, March 28th - 11:00 AM :: SIFF Cinema Uptown, Seattle
Get your tickets from the link in bio

Join us in celebrating Indigenous storytelling and the voices that shape our communities. ❤️ This film was made possible through a partnership with Tulita IPCA and Guardians Steering Committee, along with support from Tulita Land Corp, Chief Albert Wright School, and Environment and Climate Change Canada.

📢 Spread the word and tag who you would bring!

#NFFTY #OfTheLand #TulitaFilmmakers #ElderStories #IndigenousVoices #YouthandEldersFilmProgram #SeattleFilmFestival by @reelyouth

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8 months ago

Reel Youth, in partnership with @k5tclubhouse Kulspai Learning Village and the support of @storyhive , is thrilled to announce the FREE Youth & Elders Film Program this spring!
🎉 🌼 March 17-21📍Terrace 📣 Youth (14-24 years old)

Join us for an amazing week filled with creativity, self-expression, and the chance to build meaningful relationships across generations. Participants will learn filmmaking skills and create short documentaries that showcase the lives and experiences of local Elders.

✨ Fun learning environment | Hands-on film production skills | Local screening of films | Featured on TELUS' Optik TV streaming service!

👉 To sign up now to be part of this unique experience, visit link in bio!

Tag a friend or share this post to spread the word! Let’s celebrate our local elders together! 💖

#YouthFilmProgram #ElderStories #ReelYouth #K5T #TerraceEvents #Filmmaking #Community #IntergenerationalLearning by @reelyouth

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8 months ago